Balanophorin B inhibited glycolysis with the involvement of HIF-1α

Aims: Cancer cells exhibit a metabolic change called aerobic glycolysis compared with normal cells. Balanophorin B is a terpenoid ingredient reported from the genus Balanophora. In this research, we studied the effect of balanophorin B on glycolysis of HepG2 cells and Huh-7 cells under hypoxia.

Main methods: The Warburg effect was monitored by assessing glucose uptake, oxygen consumption rate (OCR) and extracellular acidification rate (ECAR). Key enzymes in the glycolytic pathway and HIF-1α protein expression and degradation were analyzed by real-time PCR and western blotting. The anti-cancer effect of balanophorin B in vivo was also investigated.

Key findings: Balanophorin B inhibited the proliferation, glucose uptake, and ECAR in both HepG2 cells and Huh-7 cells. In addition, balanophorin B inhibited the protein level of HIF-1α and its downstream targets LDHA and HKII under hypoxia, whereas HIF-1α mRNA level did not change after balanophorin B treatment. The HIF-1α plasmid reversed the inhibition of balanophorin B on glycolysis, and the proteasome inhibitor MG132 attenuated the effect of balanophorin B on HIF-1α protein expression, suggesting that balanophorin B might post-transcriptionally affect HIF-1α. Moreover, balanophorin B increased the expression of VHL and PHD2. HIF-1α siRNA also greatly attenuated the inhibitory effect of balanophorin B on HepG2 cells glucose uptake. Balanophorin B significantly inhibited tumor growth in vivo, without causing obvious toxicity to mice.

Significance: These data suggest that balanophorin B inhibits glycolysis probably via an HIF-1α-dependent pathway, and the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway was greatly involved in the induction of balanophorin B on HIF-1α degradation.